Spring structure



Feb. 13, '1945. B RR ETAL 2,369,116

SPRING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1945- J. H. BURR ET AL SPRING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g yoz wzz AZZOfZy Patented Feb. 13, 1945 2,369,116 SPRING STRUCTURE John H. Burr and Donald J. Driscoll, New Rich- .mond, Wis., assignors to Strand Ski Company,

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New Richmond, Wis., a'corporation of Wiscon- Application September 12, 1942, Serial No. 458,068 7 Claims. (o1. 5-239) This invention relates to spring structures which are suitable for use in beds, mattresses and furniture generally;

' Our principal objects are to provide a novel spring assembly of this class adapted to be constructed from wood, as a saving in the use of war materials, and to simplify and reduce the cost of such structures while affording adequate strength and resiliency.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure l is a plan View showing a typical unit of our improved spring structure;

Fig.2 is an end view "of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view showing one arrangement of a plurality of our spring units in a wide'spring or mattress and withpo rtions of the supporting frame members shown in section;

Fig. 4is a plan view showing an alternate form of top structure for our improved spring, and

Fig. 5 is an end view of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4.

Our improved spring comprises two series of resilient, inclined members indicated by the numerals 5 and 6 respectively. The members 5 are normally parallel to each other anda bar 1 connects their lower ends together. This bar is pref-' erably mortised to receive the ends of the several members 5 and a series of pins or screws 8 and/or adhesive maybe used to fasten the members to.

the bar. The members 6 are similarly connected at their lower ends to a bar 9 and extend obliquely upward between the members 5, crossing them in a, verticalplane located approximately midway between the bars I and 9. Each member 5 is thus spaced between a pair of the members.

6, except those at the ends of the unit. Extending along the center line of the unit in parallel relation to the bars 1 and 9" is a rigid bar I with mortises to receive the ends of these members 6, the fastening comprising adhesive or other suitable means such as the screws l2.

A flexible top is supported on the upper and outer ends of the members and 6. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and'3 this top comprises a with the spring structure.

above one of the members 5. The strips I3 rest on the upper ends [4 of the members 5 and are" slida'ble thereon to allow for free bending of the several members. To retain each of the strips l3 directly above its supporting member 5, a stud l 5'is mounted on each strip 13 and projects down through an elongated 'slot I6 formed in the member 5. .Extending across the otherwise free ends of the strips I3 and connected to each is a flexible member I! which affords a soft upper edge on thespring unit. A stout cord is preferably used as the member l'l. Substantially horizontal sup-' ports- 18 may be provided for the bars 1 and 9; on a bed or box spring frame or on the couch,

chair or other article of furniture to be provided For a spring of considerable horizontal extent,

such as that for a double bed or in a large m'attress; two or [more of my spring units may be arranged as indicated in Fig. 3. These units may be supported onparallel members, such as the members I9 and 20. In this case the soft flexible tie members ll will ordinarily be located along the center lineof the spring.

Referring to the top structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5, we provide flexible wood strips 2| .each' of which extends obliquely from the upper end of one of the members 5 to the upper end of the adjacent member 6. J Normally, these stripsare disposed horizontally and in parallel relation to For a wide spring or mattress two each other. units each comprising a series of members 5 and 6 connected by bars I, 9 and H) are preferably arranged side by side on the bed frame or sup-1 porting members 22 and 23. Along the top center line'of the double spring the strips 2| project from each side beyond thecenter plane so that these members of the several unitsare free to be compressed independently of each other but overlap laterally to afford a continuous support for a mattress or for upholstery along the juncQ At their outer ends the tion of the two units. strips 2| are each fitted with an eye 24 and the several eyes along each lateral margin of the spring are connected by a stout cord or rope 25 which permits fiexingand transmits movement from .one to another of these strips. These cords 25 are anchored at their ends on the end strips 2 I of each unit.

" mounted beneath each of the eyes 24 to engage series of flexible wood strips 13 which are severally fastened at one end to the bar II and normally' extend horizontally across the spring. ea ss s st i b we dimer...

I engage the members 5 in slots 28. Thelower A downwardly projecting stud 26 is rigidly plane where the .units overlap; I

ends of the studs 26 and 27 are preferably fitted with stop members comprising Washers 29 to pro- The form of'invention shown the margins of the units or along the {center We'prefer to construct the members 5, 6, I3

1 and 2| from thin and relatively wide strips of certain of the harder species of wood having fairly g vide a connection between the several top strips 2| and their supporting members 5 and 6, 1 will be understood that the studs 26 and 21 work- 7 Q ing in the elongated slots permit the necessary 3 relative movement for flexing of the several members 5, 6 and 2! as the top structure is de- 5 pressed in use. i in Figs. 4 and 5 has the advantage over that i shown in Figs; 1 to 3 inclusive in that in the former there are no'rigid members directly con necting the top strips to each o'thereitherwa'lohgstraight grain and high moduli of elasticity Probably the best species of wood for ourpurpose conform to the load which is transmitted to the outer and upper endsof the members and 6.

j Asthese thin members 5,16,, 113 and ll' have a high degree of elasticity, they produce the desired resilient effect.

. It will be evident that any depression of the spring top causes deflection in two-or more .of

the members 5 and 6 bothabove and below the i bar-Ill. The tying and reinforcing action of the bar I'll causes the upper and lower portions of site directions so that each of these members.

1 which is normally straight, when deflected, as-

I is hickory, but other softer woods'have'been found 1 A bed spring should conform to the body of the occupant notwithstanding the fact that'the greatest concentration of weight is beneath the hips of the occupant and less pressure is exerted, in varying degree, by the shoulders, head and feet of the occupant. It will be understood that the corresponding areas of our spring are adapted to be deflected independently of each other. to compensate for this normal distribution of weight and thereby support the occupant in the most comfortable and healthful position. i

' Having described our invention, what we claim asfnewand desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

i 1. .A spring assembly having in combination, a series of normally straight, parallel, resilient members extending obliquely upward from one second series of similar resilient members crossing the members of the first series and extending obliquely upward in the opposite direction, a rigid bar connecting the several resilientmernbers of both series near the line where they cross each other and being formed with inclined bearing surfaces engaging and extending along the upper and lower surfaces of each resilient rner'nber and a flexible top supported on the upper ends of the several resilient members. l I

'2. A spring assembly having in combination a series of resilient strips extending obliquely up- .eachiof the members 5 and 6 to bef bent in opposur'nes a fiat '8 shape and the load is distributed substantially uniformly throughout the length vof each of a large numberof members. Obviously, this minimizes the strain and degree of bending of the individual spring elements.

6 "aregpreferably constructed from stock of like cross sectional dimensions. These membersv when made'o'f'wood ordinarily are from one-eighthto one-quarter inch thick and from one to .three inches in width, depending on the load to be carried and degree of resiliency desiredyas well as the length of the several members, As -illus- 1 trate'd, the bars I, 9, "HI and. 'H are. also con:

structed from'wood. It is to be'unders'tood'howstruction of these members and thatother types of "flexible tops may be substituted for the strips l3 and 2| without departin'gffrom "the spirit of independently of the other strips where flexible edgem'embers such as themember "I I 'or 25 are employed. An nn ortantfeature 'of our, invenp "The top strips [3 and 21 and members 5 tudinal side to the opposite side of the assembly and a top structure comprising a series of .normalhr horizontal, resilient 'str'ipssupported on the upper end portions of'the strips of the first I and second series, eacho f the strips .of the top structure being supported individually .at'one .end on a single strip of the first series an'd'a't its other end'on a single strip of the second series and means connecting said normally'horizontal strips with 'thejunderiying lobl'ique'strip's near eachnf underlying strips.

'3. Aspring assembly having in .combination'a series of resilient strips extending obliquely .up-.

ward in one direction, each from thebottoml o'f the assembly at one side to the 'toplo'f the assembly. at the opposite side, a second series of resilient strips "crossing the strips of "the first seriesand extending obliquely upward "inthe opposite direction from the'bottom to the 'top df the assembly, side. bars respectively connecting the strips of each' series'to'geth'er atthein'lower ever,'that other materials'm'aybe used in the con.-

endsand'fexterrding longitudinally of the as sernbly, a central bar connecting the strips of both series together along the "line where those i take full advantage"dfthefresiliency'of'the entire 5 upper "half 'of' e'aoh'str'i which -may be de ressed tion, as applied to bed springs, resides "in the disposition of the inclinedistrips'and'thenormally horizontal strips crosswaysof the bed; This prevents "the condition known "as a sagging spring the human body.

of the respective series cross each other, and a topstructure comprising a. series of normally horizontal stripssupported on the upper end portrons o'fthe strips ofthe first and .secondseri'es, each o'f'thestrips ofthe ltop structure beings'upportedatone end'fon a strip of the'first series and, at "its other *end on 'a strip of the second series and means connectingthe: end portions of the normally horizontal .stri'pstothe underlying end portions .of their supporting strips :respjective1y,..

said connecting means permitting limited sliding movement of. the horizontal .strip's relative to'the supportin strips respectively;

4.? Ab'edsprin'g ass'eniblyfcompr of similartunits'eaoh extending "longitudinally 'fdf the bed and each comprising'a series of resilient ing 'alplfurality strips extending obliquely upward crossways of the bed, a second series of resilient strips crossing the strips of the first series and extending obliquely upward inthe opposite direction crossways of the bed, means supporting said strips of the several series in inclined positions and a top structure comprising a multiplicity of normally horizontal, flexible strips extending crossways of the bed in parallel, spaced relation to each other, each of said horizontal strips being supported at an end, individually on the upper end portion of 1 a single underlying inclined strip and connecting means near each of said ends permitting limited sliding movement of the horizontal strip relative to the underlying inclined strip.

5; A bed spring assembly comprising a plurality of similar units each extending longitudinally of the bed and each comprising a series of resilient strips extending obliquely upward crossways of the bed, a second series of resilient strips crossing the strip of the first series and extending obliquely upward in the opposite direction crossways of the bed, means supporting the strips of the several series in inclined positions and a top structure comprising a multiplicity of normally horizontal, flexible strips extending crossways of the bed in parallel, spaced relation to each other, the horizontal strips of one of said units projecting laterally between the top strips of the other unit and being severally supported near their ends, each on a single underlying oblique strip and the adjacent end portions of the horizontal strips being movable in parallel vertical planes independently of each other.

6. A spring assembly having in combination a series of resilient strips extending obliquely upward in one direction, a second series of resilient strips crossing the strips of the first series and extending obliquely upward in the opposite direction, the strips of one series crossing those of the other series approximately midway between the ends of the individual strips, means for supporting said strips in said inclined positions, a top structure comprising a series of normally horizontal, flexible'strips each having a vertically movable end portion directly supported on an end portion of one of said oblique strips and a flexible cord connecting the several vertically movable end portions of the normally horizontal strips together along a lateral edge of the assembly.

' '7. A bed spring assembly comprising in combination, a series of resilient strips extending obliquely upward crossways of the bed, each strip being normally straight and extending from the bottom substantially to the top of the structure, a second series of similar resilient strips crossing the strips of the first series approximately midway between the top and bottom of the structure and extending obliquely upward in the opposite direction crossways of the bed, a rigid bar supporting said strips of the several series in inclined positions and extending directly above and below the line where the strips of the respective series cross and atop structure comprising a multiplicity of normally horizontal, flexible strips extending crossways of the bed in parallel, spaced relation to each other, each of said horizontal strips being supported near an end individually on the upper end portion of a single underlying inclined strip and means connecting an end portion of each of said normally horizontal strips to the underlying inclined strip, said connecting means permitting limited sliding movement of the horizontal strip relative to the underlying inclined strip.

JOHN H. BURR. DONALD J. DRISCOLL. 

